Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta

This rich and tasty dish is great for special occasions or weeknight dinners. It’s called Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta. Shrimp are cooked in garlic butter until they are soft, then mixed with pasta and covered in a thick, creamy sauce. This recipe is quick and easy to make, and it tastes like something you’d get at a restaurant.

What You’ll Love About This Recipe

The creamy garlic sauce is rich and tasty.
Easy to make: It only takes 30 minutes to make a full meal.
You can choose the pasta and add-ins you want to use.
Good for any event: It’s fancy enough for a date night but simple enough for a busy night.
Family-friendly: A meal that everyone at the table will enjoy.

Servings and Time

Number of servings: 4
Time to get ready: 10 minutes
Time to cook: 20 minutes
30 minutes total time

Things you need

(You can find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

8 ounces of pasta, such as spaghetti, fettuccine, or linguine
1 pound of shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 tablespoons of olive oil
3 tablespoons of butter without salt
4 cloves of garlic, chopped up
One cup of heavy cream
½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. of Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Fresh parsley, chopped, for decoration

How to

1. Make the pasta

Put a lot of salt in a big pot of water and bring it to a boil. Follow the directions on the package to cook the pasta until it is al dente. Set aside 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta.

2. Cook the shrimp

Add salt and pepper to the shrimp.
Put a lot of olive oil in a large skillet and turn the heat up to medium. Add the shrimp and cook them for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until they turn pink and opaque. Take the shrimp out of the skillet and put it aside.

3. Make the sauce with garlic and cream

On medium heat, melt the butter in the same skillet. Add the minced garlic and cook for about a minute, or until it smells good.
Add the heavy cream and bring to a low boil.
If you want to, add the red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese. Keep stirring until the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth.

4. Mix everything together

Put the cooked pasta in the skillet and toss it around until it is evenly coated in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add some of the pasta water that you saved.
Put the shrimp back in the skillet and gently toss them to mix.

5. Serve

Put the pasta on plates and top each one with fresh parsley. Serve right away.

Different types

Add more heat by adding more red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.
Add spinach, cherry tomatoes, or sautéed mushrooms to your dish for more nutrition and flavor.
For a creamier texture, add shredded mozzarella or Gruyère cheese.
Instead of shrimp, use chicken, scallops, or tofu.
If you want to make this dish gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta.

Keeping and reheating

Storing: Put leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days.
To reheat, put it in a skillet over low heat and add a little cream or pasta water to loosen the sauce. Don’t microwave the shrimp because it can cook them too much.
Freezing: The cream sauce may separate when thawed, so don’t freeze it.

Pasta with Creamy Garlic Shrimp

Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta is a rich and decadent meal with tender shrimp, a rich garlic cream sauce, and perfectly cooked pasta. This recipe is quick and easy, making it great for a weeknight dinner or a special event.

Time to prepare: 15 minutes
Time to cook: 15 minutes
30 minutes total time
Yield: 1x 4 servings

Things You Need

For the pasta:

12 ounces (340 grams) of spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine
1/2 tsp salt (for the water to boil)

For the shrimp:

1 lb (450g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika
1/2 tsp of garlic powder
Add salt and pepper to taste.

To make the Garlic Cream Sauce:

Two tablespoons of butter without salt
4 cloves of garlic, chopped up
Heavy cream, 1 cup (240ml)
1/2 cup (50g) of grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (optional)
1 tsp of lemon juice
Add salt and pepper to taste.

For decoration:

2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley
More Parmesan cheese

Mode of Cooking

Don’t let your screen go dark

How to do it

Make the Pasta:

Put a lot of salt in a big pot of water and bring it to a boil. Follow the directions on the package to cook the pasta until it is al dente. Take out 1/2 cup of the pasta water and set it aside.

Make the shrimp:

Put the shrimp in a medium bowl and add smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Put a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Cook the shrimp for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until they are pink and opaque. Take out and put aside.

How to Make the Garlic Cream Sauce:

In the same pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until it smells good.
Add the heavy cream and bring to a low boil. If you’re using red pepper flakes, add them and the Parmesan cheese and stir until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens a little.
Add the lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.

Mix the sauce and pasta together:

Put the cooked pasta in the skillet and toss it around to coat it in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a little bit of the pasta water you saved.
Put the cooked shrimp back in the skillet and mix them together gently.

Give:

Put the pasta on plates, top with fresh parsley and more Parmesan cheese, and serve right away.

Notes

Use half-and-half instead of heavy cream to make it lighter.
For more vegetables, add spinach, cherry tomatoes, or mushrooms to the sauce.
If you want to avoid gluten, use gluten-free pasta.

Questions and Answers

Is it okay to use frozen shrimp?: Yes, to get the best texture, thaw the shrimp all the way and then pat them dry.
What kind of pasta is best?: Spaghetti, fettuccine, and linguine are all good choices, but any kind of pasta will do.
Is it possible to make this dish without dairy?: Instead of Parmesan, use nutritional yeast or a vegan cheese. Instead of coconut cream, use coconut cream or a plant-based cream.
How do I keep the shrimp from getting tough?: Take the shrimp off the heat as soon as they turn pink and opaque.
Is it okay to add wine to the sauce?: For sure! After cooking the garlic, add a splash of white wine and let it cook down a little before adding the cream.
What sides go well with this meal?: You can make a full meal by serving it with garlic bread, a salad, or roasted vegetables.
Is this food hot?: The red pepper flakes give the dish a little heat, but you can leave them out for a milder taste.
How do I make the sauce thicker?: If you need to, let the sauce simmer for a few more minutes to thicken it, or add a mixture of cornstarch and water.
Is it possible to make the sauce ahead of time?: Yes, you can make the sauce ahead of time, but you should reheat it slowly and mix it with freshly cooked pasta and shrimp before serving.

How should I dress this dish?

Adding fresh parsley, more Parmesan, and a squeeze of lemon juice makes the flavors even better.

In conclusion

This creamy garlic shrimp pasta is a fancy dish that’s simple to make and full of flavor. This recipe is sure to impress, whether you’re making it for your family or a special event. Make it the way you like it and enjoy a meal at home that tastes like it came from a restaurant. Give it a try tonight for a meal that’s creamy, garlicky, and so good!